Crohn’s Disease Microbiome

Recent studies have highlighted an important role for the microbiome in the development of several gut-centric diseases, including colon cancer (see Sears and Garrett, pp. 317–328) and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease. In the largest disease-associated microbiome study to date, Gevers et al. (pp. 382–392) identified the key constituents of the complex gut microbial community that define a mucosal surface in new-onset Crohn’s disease patients. Represented on the cover is a Keith Haring-inspired illustration of an intestinal microenvironment with an imbalanced microbial community. Cover art by Sigrid Knemeyer.